When Zappa saw, by the overwhelming number of his enemies who poured
into the fort, that he must perish or make good his retreat from the
island, he ordered those of the _Sea Hawk's_ crew who were on shore to
accompany him; and retreating from the fight, he left them below while
he rushed up into Ada's tower, and gained the chamber where the
terrified females were assembled.
"Fond girl, I will not leave you to perish or to be branded as the
pirate's mistress," he exclaimed, clasping Nina in his arms. "I will
not quit you till I can place you in safety--come with me."
"We will live or die together," murmured Nina, forgetting, in that
moment of defeat and disaster, all the cruelty of which he had been
guilty towards her.
"Lady, your friends have gained the day," he continued, turning to Ada.
"You have brought rain on my head, and you have your revenge--farewell."
Miss Garden's heart beat quick with hope. The moment of her
emancipation had at last arrived, and he whom she loved had come to her
rescue. At the instant the pirate disappeared, a person rushed forward,
and seizing her in his arms, exclaimed,--"Haste, signora, from hence, or
destruction awaits us."
She knew Paolo Montifalcone's voice; and believing that the pirate had
intended to blow up the tower, she fancied that he had come to save her,
nor attempted to struggle in his grasp. She shrieked out to Marianna to
follow her, but the poor girl was so petrified with horror at the death
of little Mila, which had just taken place, that she could not move, and
in vain Ada implored the Italian to stop for her attendant. His only
reply was--"It will be too late, and we shall be destroyed--on, on."
He seemed to be endowed with strength almost superhuman; he gained the
bottom of the steps, and rushing on, was soon among the body of the
retreating crew of the _Sea Hawk_, who were following their captain.
They all recognised Paolo, who was a favourite among them, and aided him
in supporting his burden.
"Oh where are you taking me to?" exclaimed Ada, when, too late, she
heard the sounds of the strange voices round her, and found that she was
descending the ravine.
"To happiness and freedom," he answered passionately, and pressed her
closer in his arms.
Ada, with horror, saw that she was cruelly betrayed. She shrieked
aloud, and struggled to get free; but he who bore her had pictured the
only joy he could hope for in possessing her, and intense misery without
her, and he could not bring himself to relinquish what he valued more
than life itself.
"Hear me, sweet Ada," he exclaimed, as he still bore her on. "He whom
you loved is dead, and a heart devoted as mine, is alone worthy to
occupy the place he held."
Still Ada entreated him to have mercy on her, to take her back to her
friends, who must even now be in the tower she had just quitted; but he
was deaf to all her prayers.
The gentle, timid Paolo had been sadly changed by the scenes he had
witnessed, and the burning love to which, he had madly resigned his
soul. She saw at length that all appeals to his generosity or better
feelings were vain, and overcome with horror, she fainted.
When they reached the beach, Zappa and Nina had already embarked; he
placed Ada in another boat, with the rear-guard of the pirates. They
were quickly alongside, and she was lifted on deck, still insensible,
and, without the chief seeing her, Paolo carried her in his arms below.
Instantly the brig was under weigh, and darting out of the harbour, was
hotly engaged with the _Ypsilante_.
Once on the open sea, the pirates breathed more freely, and sail after
sail, notwithstanding the strength of the breeze, was let fall from the
yards. The shot of the fort had already damaged their enemy, and now
bringing their broadside to bear on her just before she kept away in
chase, they raked her fore-and-aft, killing many of the people, and
cutting away much of her rigging.
The _Sea Hawk_ was celebrated for her speed, and the rigging of the
_Ypsilante_ was much cut up, but her commanding officer was a gallant
fellow, and crippled as he was, determined, if he could, not to lose
sight of the enemy; and was soon after her, firing his bow-chasers with
little or no effect, as the _Sea Hawk_ was rapidly running from them,
firing her stern guns in return.
Meantime the _Sea Hawk_ winged her rapid flight over the foaming waters.
She had received but slight damage from the cannonade, opened on her by
the _Ypsilante_, during the storming of the fort, and none after she got
outside the harbour, so that the pirates were able to laugh at the
efforts of her pursuer.
Zappa having run the _Ypsilante_ out of sight, shaped as northerly a
course as the wind would allow him, towards that part of the Archipelago
where the islands cluster the thickest, that, among their many intricate
and dangerous channels, well known to him and his crew, he might have a
greater chance of avoiding his enemies; and would be certain to find
friends ready to assist him. The two misticos, not being able to look
up so well to the gale, had to run before it till it moderated, and they
then hauled up in the same direction. From their rig and appearance
being that of the ordinary craft of the Mediterranean, they ran less
risk of recognition than the brig, or of detection, from being able to
conceal themselves in any nook or bay, or behind any reef which might
offer itself, so that an enemy might pass close to them, without their
being seen.
The gale continued blowing with undiminished fury till daylight, when it
gave signs of abating. It had been the means of saving Zappa and his
comrades, and he wished it to continue rather longer to carry him
entirely clear of his pursuers. Men with sharp eyes were sent aloft to
look out on every side, to discover if any vessels were in sight. They
reported one hull down in the northern board, the heads of her topsails
only seen, which was, doubtless, the _Ypsilante_, and two on the
larboard quarter, which seemed like the two misticos. As the sun rose,
his beams seemed to calm the rage of the tempest, the wind fell, the
clouds dispersed, and the sea went down, and Zappa no longer felt the
anxiety he had at first experienced for the fate of his vessel. He now
mustered his crew, and found that some of his bravest and best men had
fallen when attempting to defend the fort against the first attack of
the English; the remainder promised to stand by him as long as the _Sea
Hawk_ floated on the waves. Every arrangement which circumstances would
admit of being made for the future, he dismissed all but the necessary
watch on deck, to take the rest they so much needed.
Among those who appeared was Paolo. He hitherto had had no time to
speak to him--he now summoned him to his side.
"What," he exclaimed, "are you not yet weary of a rover's life, that you
return again to the _Sea Hawk_--or did you fear a pirate's fate, if you
had remained on shore?"
The Italian looked conscience-stricken and miserable. He could not meet
the glance of the pirate's eye; he dared not confess what he had done;
and yet he knew it must be instantly discovered.
"Could I leave my sister?" he asked. "Could I leave one whom I love
dearer than life itself to perish amid the raging fight, when my arm
might save her? Do you suppose that my eye is so dull, my heart so
callous, that I could behold the rare beauty which almost won your
affections from her who had sacrificed all to you, and yet feel no
impression? Know, that he whom you have treated as a tyrant does his
slave, whom you have scorned and deceived, has a heart capable of
burning with a passion far more intense, far brighter, far purer, and
more enduring than the flickering flame which yours can alone nourish."
"What is this rhapsody about?" exclaimed Zappa, thinking that Paolo had
gone mad.
"When you go below, you will discover," answered the Italian, and walked
to the other side of the deck.
When Ada Garden came to her senses, she found herself in the cabin of
the _Sea Hawk_, and Nina bending over her, and applying such
restoratives as she had at command. She was soon sufficiently recovered
to explain to her astonished friend the means by which she had come
there.
"And Paolo could have done this. He who professed to be ready to die
for you, to tear you from the very arms of your friends, when they were
on the point of recovering you. Alas! my unhappy brother--his mind must
have forsaken him."
"Whatever the cause, I have sorely suffered, and I have no one to trust
to now but you, Nina. Through you alone can I now hope to be restored
to my friends."
As Ada was speaking, the pirate chief entered the cabin. He started
back, on seeing her, and an angry frown came over his brow. "What! and
my suspicions are true," he exclaimed, in a voice of passion. "And that
mad youth has ventured to bring you on board. You, lady, who have been
the cause of the disaster we have suffered, who have already so nearly
proved my destruction."
He ground his teeth as he spoke, and the two defenceless girls saw that
he was working himself up to the same awful pitch of fury to which he
had given way when he so barbarously wounded Nina.
"But where is this wretched youth?" he continued. "Here, Momolo--
Balbo," calling to some of his officers, "seize Signor Paolo, and drag
him here. Take care that he does not leap overboard to avoid you. He
has performed an act, by which he has well merited death, and he knows
his guilt is discovered."
While those he spoke to were absent obeying his orders, he stood at the
door of the cabin, grasping his sword, as if he meditated a dire and
speedy vengeance. Nina sprung towards him and clasped his arm.
"Oh! you will not injure him--you will not--you cannot kill my brother!
He has committed a great fault--but his death will not remedy it. Say,
for my sake--say, for her sake--for she wishes not his destruction--you
will forgive him?"
While Nina was thus pleading for her brother, he was brought in by four
of the crew, who, supposing that he had been found guilty of treachery--
the only crime in a pirate's eye--stood over him with their drawn
daggers in their hands, to execute, at the moment, the chief's commands.
Zappa shook her off without answering her.
"So, signor, you have dared to drag hither the glittering bait which has
already allured a host of enemies to attack us; and while I would have
left her as their prize, and escaped in safety from what you have done,
they will still continue their pursuit, nor desist till they have
destroyed us all. From the number of men engaged in the attack, there
must, doubtless, be many ships in chase of us, whereas, had you not
committed this mad act, we might have gone our way unmolested. Such is
your crime and its consequences; and if I deliver you up to the crew,
and explain what you have done, they will save me the trouble of being
your executioner. Take him on deck," he said, in Romaic, to the men who
held Paolo. "I will follow shortly; and you may, meantime, make
preparations to deal with a traitor."
The pirates were dragging the miserable man away, when Ada, who though
she knew not the words which were used, comprehended their meaning,
sprang from her seat and grasped Paolo's arm, to prevent his being
carried off.
"Stay," she cried, appealing to Zappa. "Do not condemn this unhappy man
to death. Towards me he has acted the most cruel part--but I forgive
him. For your own sake, I implore you to do so likewise, for the sake
of that sweet girl. Oh! do not commit so black a crime. It will be a
murder, for he had no intention of injuring you or your followers.
Blinded by an unhappy passion for me, he has done this, fancying that
the man to whom I was to be united is no more; and has been led on in
the vain hope of one day possessing me, and winning the worthless love I
should have to give. Let me now swear that nothing shall ever induce me
to become his--and let it be part of his punishment that he knows what
he has done is in vain; and if, by any means, I can remedy the evil he
has committed, I will do so, if you will allow him to live."
"A lady who pleads so energetically should have her prayers granted,"
said the pirate, with a tone of irony. "But let him beware how he
behaves--unhand him," he said to the men, in their own tongue. "These
ladies have pleaded for the prisoner, and are answerable for his
conduct. And tow, signora," he said, in a blander tone, addressing
himself to Ada, "by what means do you propose to remedy the fault of
that madman?"
Ada was silent for some minutes, during which the pirate stood regarding
her attentively.
"It is fitter for you to point out the means by which I can serve you,
than for me to propose them," she at length replied. "Indeed, I can do
nothing till I am restored to my friends; I am sure that any ransom you
may propose, which they have the power to pay, they will gladly give for
my liberty."
"It is a pity that was not thought of before; but, are you aware, lady,
that it is usual to secure the ransom before the prisoner is restored?"
observed Zappa.
"Touch then at one of the Ionian Islands, where there are English
authorities, and let me write letters in different directions, and
before long, I doubt not, the money will be raised, and will be
deposited wherever you desire. If you will allow me to go on shore, I
will promise to do my very utmost to place the money in your hands, and
will send word to the British cruiser, now in search of this ship, that
I am in safety; and will at the same time exert all the influence I may
possess with my friends to obtain your pardon, should you be captured.
This I promise to do most faithfully."
"Oh, listen to her!" exclaimed Nina, springing towards the pirate, and
seizing his hands. "Land her in safety and honour among her own people,
and she will pay you the money if you demand it, and I--I will be
responsible that she does so with my life--but why demand it? you have
already more wealth than you require on board this vessel, and no rest
nor safety can you expect, or hope to find, while you follow your
present pursuits; your hand against every man, and the hand of every man
against you,"--(Nina knew not that she was quoting the words of the
sacred book to describe her husband)--"but oh, my husband, remember that
there is a land across the narrow Adriatic, where your deeds are
unknown, and where we may henceforth live unsuspected in tranquillity,
and with such happiness as we can enjoy--that land, the land of my
birth--there, in the home which I deserted for your sake, you will be
secure; there I will watch over you, will tend you, will strive to make
you forget the past in the contentment of the present; and should you be
discovered, should any one attempt to tear you from me, I will give my
life with joy for yours. Oh say that you will do this--say you will
abandon the evil course you are leading, and you will make my heart beat
lighter than it has done for many a day, and bless the words you utter."
The pirate was somewhat softened.
"Nina," he said, looking at her with a glance of more affection than she
had for a long time seen, "you know not what you ask me to do. You know
not the difficulty, the almost impossibility of accomplishing what you
wish. Even were I seized with the humour to turn virtuous, I cannot
abandon my vessel and my crew; they are bound to me and I to them; and
were I to quit them, they would be captured, to a certainty, and in just
revenge for my desertion, they would inform all they met of my retreat.
If I proposed to leave them they would not let me, and from that instant
I should lose all my authority. And then think, should I even succeed
in commencing the existence you propose, how is it likely to suit one,
accustomed from his earliest days to the dissipation of cities, or the
wild excitement of a rover's life--how should I, who have so long
commanded a band of men, regardless of all laws but those I have framed,
and yet obedient to me as children, submit to the dull, plodding
business of a country farmer engaged in superintending bumpkins in their
daily toil? No, Nina, you must not expect it; I feel it cannot be."
He was silent, and seemed lost in thought. His lips moved, but his
words were almost inaudible.
"The vision was too bright and beautiful ever to be realised," he
murmured. "Alas, alas, I have for ever cut myself off from such
happiness--and that fond girl too--oh, it is a cruel fate for her to be
linked for ever to one so lost. Yet it might be done. I might again
seek out the speronara of the Sicilian Alessandro, and he should land us
on some part of the coast I would select, nor should he know whither we
went. Ah--but is he to be trusted? Would he not, if he saw our wealth,
be tempted to destroy us for the sake of possessing himself of it?--
would he not, even if we concealed it ever so carefully, or even had it
not, suspect that we had it, and equally attempt our destruction? Who
is to be trusted? In whom can I, especially, of all men, dare to
confide? Alas! on no one. Every one of my fellow men, except the
ruffians who surround me, and a few like them, would glory in betraying
me. I might, it is true, find some stranger bound for the Italian
coast, and with a well-invented tale about the vessel I had quitted,
persuade them to carry me whither I may determine to go."
"Nina, I will think about it," he said, aloud. "I would please you if I
could; but though my power to do evil has been great, alas! the means I
possess of doing good are small indeed."
"Oh, do more than think of it," exclaimed Nina, looking up imploringly
in his face. "Resolve with your determined will to execute what you
think of--resolve to overcome all difficulties--to be daunted by no
dangers, and she and I will bless you to our dying day, and our prayers
will ascend to heaven to implore forgiveness for the crimes which now
weigh down your soul and prevent you from perceiving clearly where true
peace and happiness can alone be found."
"Enough, Nina, enough, or you will make me act the woman," exclaimed
Zappa, releasing his hands from her grasp, and rushing on deck, where
his voice was heard, immediately after, issuing some orders in his usual
firm and loud tones.
"You will conquer, my sweet Nina; you will persuade him to abandon a
pirate's life, and happiness may yet be in store for you," said Ada,
kissing the cheek of her friend, who sat pale and trembling on the couch
by her side.
Nina shook her head sorrowfully.
"Alas!" she replied, "you know not the wayward spirit which possesses
him, or you would not speak to me of hope."